Maximum Altitude
14,600 ft.
Trek Duration
7 Night / 8 Days
Trek Distance
41 Km
Difficulty Level
Moderate to difficult
Start/End Point
Prince Chowk, Dehradun
Nearest Airport
Jollygrant Airport, Dehradun
Best Season
May - June & Sep - Oct
Accommodation
2 night in hotel room & during trek in dome styled tent
Meals
Breakfast, lunch, evening snacks and dinner
Permits
Forest Department & Trekking permit
Temperature
10°C to 15°C (day) ; -5°C to -10°C (night)
Snow
November to February
The Gaumukh Tapovan Trek is an unforgettable high-elevation trek in the Uttarkashi District of Uttarakhand and takes you inside the Gangotri National Park. The Gaumukh Tapovan Trek is a unique combination of both spiritual and adventure as it starts off at the holy town of Gangotri (10,200 feet) and treks to Gaumukh (13,200 feet), which is considered both the end of (the glacial end) of the very large Gangotri glacier and as the mythical origin of the Ganges River. After crossing the glacier, one must ascend up a steep and difficult path across unstable moraines and moving boulders to reach the high-altitude meadows of Tapovan (14,600). In Tapovan, you can find beautiful meadows with incredible views of Mt. Shivling, Meru, and the Bhagirathi sister peaks while enjoying the meditative silence of the area. The trek is approximately 41 kilometers long, and takes anywhere from 6-8 days to complete. The trek is rated moderate to difficult because of the condition of the rugged terrain, the thinning air, and also the need to acclimatize to the altitude of the high mountains. Not only does this trek provides a deep sense of height (temple bells ringing from the valley) and beauty (from the Alpenglow on the tops of the golden peaks) but it is also considered one of the must do treks for anyone interested in following the sacred river to its true birth of ice and snow in the midst of some of the highest peaks in the world. This trek serves as the ultimate benchmark in Himalayan exploration, with each step taken on the ancient ice being an experience that allows you to explore the beginnings of all life; whether witnessed during warm weather in May or June, or when the coolness of the autumn months from September until October, this trek has no equal in Himalayan trekking.
1. The Ganges' Sacred Source: The Gaumukh Tapovan Trek is often referred to as the source of the Ganges River, located at the base of Gaumukh, or Cow Mouth. This site is very special in many respects because this is the actual physical location where the Ganges begins, as well as the mythological birthplace of the Ganges (also known as the Bhagirathi) because this is where the river began its flow from an ancient glacier in the Himalayas. As trekkers arrive at the glacier's front (or actual wall), they experience a humbling feeling of one of the largest glaciers in the Himalayas, a powerful and defining force of nature that ultimately serves as the river that serves the many millions of people on our planet.
2. The Stage for the Greatest of the Himalayas: Upon arriving at the meadows of Tapovan, trekkers find themselves having the best seat in the campsite. Trekkers standing at the foot of what is referred to as the Matterhorn of the East is certainly one of the greatest front-row seat locations in the world; it provides trekkers with a breathtaking view of many of the world's most recognized peaks, including the distinctive pyramid shape of Mt. Shivling, the three granite walls that form the Bhagirathi Massif, the shark-fin shape of Mt. Meru, and the massive Kedar Dome. The landscape surrounding Tapovan is so dramatic that there are very few locations that provide such a panoramic, unrestricted view of a 360-degree landscape on earth.
3. Exciting Ice Navigation Experience: You will trek across a hazardous glacier full of moving ice, sliding rocks, and many boulders. The Route consists of a wide-open area or what might be best described as an avalanche of opened up or unrepaired moraine and lots of melted ice, resulting in great new surfaces and many irregularly shaped formations created by melting ice. You will be able to hear the sound of the ice moving beneath you and see the unique features of the glacier.
4. Surprising Scenic Changes in Landscape: The trail has a varied set of perspectives over a continuous distance of up to 1,000 feet. You trekl from some of the world's most beautiful cedar and pine forests in Gangotri (Chirbasa), to a very dry landscape that resembles the moon at Bhojbasa (home of the ancient Himalayan Birch trees), to spectacular golden meadows at Tapovan where you will encounter a beautiful landscape filled with wildflowers, including the extremely popular and rare Bharal (Blue Sheep).
5. A Living Spiritual History: This area has provided a home to many ascetics and sages seeking beauty, solitude, and the good life for thousands of years. Tapovan (the Forest of Penance) is home to monks who spend their summers meditating in cave-like structures throughout the mountains. The trail follows a very ancient (over 2,000 years) pilgrimage route that has allowed hundreds of thousands of people to pass through these vast mountain valleys filled with very old trees and great peace.
6. A Technical Blazer for Trekkers: For experienced trekkers, this trek provides an opportunity to complete the vertical ascent from the glacier to Tapovan. The steep uphill with unstable scree and rocky footing, makes this section of the trek a true challenge for all trekkers. Completing this uphill under high-altitude conditions will give the instructed trekker an incredible sense of accomplishment over casual trekkers and truly separate the trekker from the mountain explorer.